AUDI A3 CABRIOLET REVIEW

AUDI A3 CABRIOLET REVIEW

Audi launched the A3 Cabriolet for the Indian market on December 11, 2014. Based on the hard top A3 sedan, the two-door, four-seater vehicle with a retractable roof top is targeted at consumers looking for joy and style while driving with the roof down. The German carmaker showcased the car at the Indian Auto Expo at the start of this year.

The A3 Cabriolet is sportier than the A3 sedan and has a large wheelbase of 2.60 metres. The car measures 4.42 metres in length, 179 metres in width and 1.41 metres in height. The fascia sports a single frame radiator grille surrounded by the flat xenon headlamps. Further down, the bumper gives it a sharp and sporty look. This car being a soft top gets an aluminium windscreen frame with another aluminium strip that runs around the roof aperture. The two doors and the new design of the alloy wheels set the Cabriolet apart from the four-door A3 sedan.

The main highlight of the A3 Cabriolet is the soft fabric roof that is stretched over a lightweight kinematic mechanism made of magnesium steel. The top can open or close electro-hydraulically at the press of a button, in less than 18 seconds, at speeds of up to 50kmph. The car still has a luggage carrying capacity of 60 litres which is quite decent for a cabriolet version of a car.

Interior

Inside the cabin, the sporty yet elegant look is maintained with the high quality material and neat design of the interior. The company offers optional sports seats in the front and also a rear view camera. The instrument cluster with two large circular inserts and a rectangular screen in between looks subtle and displays the information clearly. The centre console is angled towards the driver displaying the carmaker’s driver-centric approach. While the air vents get a large circular jet propeller design, it gets a dual-zone electronic climate control system. The car features a retractable 5.8-inch screen that displays information including the air conditioning system of the vehicle.

Engine and Gearbox

Globally, the Audi A3 Cabriolet is available in two petrol and one diesel engine options. The 1.4-litre TFSI churns out 140bhp of power and the 1.8-litre TFSI produces 180bhp of power. The former model accelerates to 100kmph from standstill in 9.1 seconds, while the latter does that sprint in just 7.8 seconds. Both these engines come mated to a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission. The oil-burner is powered by a 2.0-litre TDI engine producing 150bhp of power and does the 0-100kmph sprint in 8.9 seconds. However, for the Indian market, only the 1.8-litre TFSI mill is offered.

Price and competition

The Audi A3 Cabriolet is priced at Rs 44.75 lakh, which is a lucrative price tag especially for people who love open-top driving and are looking for a fun convertible sports car. Since BMW has phased out their 330d Convertible, Audi’s topless model does not have any other competitor in the Indian market and will serve as a niche segment in our country.

For more info check this :  http://passionandu.com/audi-a3-cabriolet-review/